Jaylen Carr – Editor-in-Chief
Coming into the 2023 season, the women’s swim team looks to four-repeat as champions and continue their dynasty.
“We have been fortuned to win 15 on each side,” Head Coach Tim Quill said. “We have the type of team that is capable of winning another conference title.”
Quill said even though the team has won the division championship the last three seasons, the team does not take it for granted.
“Every year is a new year, we have a lot of incoming new freshmen this year and they are just learning the system,” Quill said.
The team went to West Chester, Pennsylvania recently for an open water event, Quill said, “When you compete up against better competition you tend to become a better competitor.”
In the meet in Pennsylvania, the Owls lost to West Chester University 206.5-84.5 while defeating Shippensburg University 179-99 on the same day.
“Coming back for that four-peat for that NE championships and we did lose some strong scorers with the senior class last year,” 2016-17 Freshman of the Year Gracie Marsh, a senior, said.
Combing the men’s and women’s teams there are 12 new athletes in the program, Quill said.
Marsh said: “Maintaining that strength that we have and the depth we have in our program. Building up the new first-year students that we have as well because we had a big incoming class.”
Utilizing the whole roster is essential for the team’s success, Marsh said.
For the Owls to four-repeat, Quill said the key will be the team’s depth.
Bringing another NE10 championship trophy insight, Justice Glasgow, a junior, said: “We want to put out some good races. We want to try get people in top eight to help get those high scores.”
It is going to take a lot of hard work and with a new training regimen it will help the team in order for the team to continue their dominant play, Marsh said.
“We are lifting three times a week which is new for us usually we do twice so, I think that is going to helps us a lot just building strength and just applying that in the pool,” Marsh said. “We’ve been doing a lot of technique work in the mornings more than we did in the beginning last year which is helping with our breakouts.”
Along with having a good workout regimen Glasgow said, the teams eating habits is also going to be key while prioritizing their mental well-being.
Building team camaraderie and supporting each other is important for the team for a long season, Glasgow said.
The practices have been going well, Quill said, “We take it one day at a time here, yesterday issues ware yesterday issues; we are just moving forward as program.”
Going into the season some of the athletes have set out individual goals for themselves that they want to achieve.
“Individual goals that I have for myself is definitely to go to NCAAs again,” Glasgow said. “Of course, I want to drop my time in all my races.”
Marsh said she wants to stay in the top eight in the 1000 Freestyle.
“This is my senior season I’ve struggled last year with personal mental health stuff, so this year I am really excited to enjoy myself and have fun with swimming again,” Marsh said. “It has been like really fun so far.”
The team will travel to Storrs, Connecticut in their upcoming matchup, with their team’s record being at 1-1 in their first two meets.
Quill said: “We do have a good quality program. Every athlete on the team can score.”
It is hard at times for the team to focus on the championship— the bigger picture, Quill said, while also focusing on the little things.
“I am excited for another year,” Quill said.
